Project update - Fiji Reef Conservation Project - January 2004
Added to website: 01 January 2004
Project Brief
Aim
The Fiji Coral Reef Conservation Project is a three-year project (2002-2005) to survey coral reefs of the Mamanuca Islands, the Yasawa Islands and other areas of Fiji. The programme provides training and conservation education opportunities for local Fijians, as part of an integrated programme to develop local capacity and ensure the long-term protection and sustainable use of marine resources throughout the region.
Location
Ravinaki, Castaway Island, Mamanuca Islands, West Coast Viti Levu, Fiji.
CCC Partners
CCC is working at the invitation of and in partners with the Government of Fiji, local communities, the tourism sector and other groups.
Marine Science Programme
Baseline Surveys
Number and location of Surveys
Surveying continued at three sectors this month, with 1 survey at Lau, 16 at Nuku and 8 surveys at Malolo Outer Barrier.
Number of transects completed and opened
Nuku 1 complete
Malolo Barrier
500m of surveys were achieved at Malolo Barrier, the majority of these as snorkels on the 2 open transects there.
Total number of hours conducting Baseline surveys: 64hrs
Completion of Motuse survey sector
Overall Motuse patch reef was found to be relatively pristine system, due to its geographic isolation from any significant population centres or tourist activities . With almost 300 species recorded, the patch has some of the highest biodiversity documented for any of the areas so far surveyed by CCC in the Mamanucas.
Reef Check
Two Reef Check surveys were carried out from Ravinaki this month, one on each of the reef crests at Lau and Nuku.
Total number of hours conducting Reef Check surveys: 6hrs
Interesting / Unusual Sightings
A large Potato Grouper, a 2m Leopard Shark, a Green and a Hawksbill Turtle (latter off House Reef) plus numerous White Tip Reef sharks and Spotted Eagle rays.
Environmental Awareness
Capacity Building/Training of Local Counterparts
Four enthusiastic staff members formed team “ruthless efficiency” to conduct a scoping assessment of potential project sites on the Coral Coast.
The Coral Coast, located on the South-west coast of Viti Levu, Fiji’s largest island, is currently the location of a national pilot scheme for integrated coastal management. A group of students from the Institute of Applied Sciences at the University of the South Pacific are coordinating activities in the region to reduce the environmental impacts of both the resorts and local communities. This initiative pioneers a holistic and cooperative management approach involving government bodies, local communities, resort representatives and NGOs in this popular area of Fiji.
We have been liasing with local resorts to schedule evening talks on reef awareness, for visitors and staff throughout next month.
A second ten-week programme of classes is currently being planned with the Malolo District School, scheduled to start at the beginning of February.
Wednesday 28th January : Project Scientist Sarah Hamylton attended a Laje Rotuma Community Workshop run by co-ordinator Monifa Fiu for Rotuman members of the Suva community who are developing an environmental awareness initiative in Rotuma. This is a relatively remote and unspoilt island in the North West of Fiji’s EEZ. Historically there has been resistance to the influx of proposed development, which has kept the area both culturally unique and natural resources exceptionally rich. A number of unique reef formations and blue coral aggregations can be found here. This initiative seeks to embrace and protect these. CCC have provided training to a number of initiative members, ensuring participants have the necessary skills to conduct fieldwork that will provide an inventory of the species Rotuma plays host to.
Jim Reynolds, a Peace Corps volunteer posted at Tagaqe village on the Coral Coast, commenced dive training this month. It is hoped that Jim will be involved in training sessions for reef monitoring with villages as part of the forthcoming Coral Coast Project.
Action Planning Workshop for biological monitoring to be held in Komave on February 26th, involving Peace Corps volunteers. Komave is a village on the Coral Coast that has historically been a site of intense coral harvesting.
Fiji Locally Managed Marine Area Network meeting, January 27th
